Internal combustion engine



July 12, 1938. .46 2,123,306

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Oct. 1, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 12, 1933.

' '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1/flz f Gum/wen;

Patented July 12, 1938 INTERNAL GOIVIBUST'ION ENGINE Walts Hood, Harrison, Ark., assignor to Clarence N. Hudson, Harrison, Ark.

Application October 1,

2 Claims.

My invention consists in a new and useful improvement in internal combustion engines and is designed to produce an engine in which the power shaft is a straight shaft without cranks being actuated by the engine pistons through eccentric driving means. The particular advantage of my improvedengine is the elimination of vibration caused by the crank action of the usual type of engine, thereby producing smoothness of action permitting considerably increased speed, with decreased wear. The particularly novel and useful feature of my invention is the means which I have devised for transmission of power from the pistons to the shaft, which comprises a series of eccentric driving means actuated by the pistons and keyed upon the shaft. My improved means is so designed as to be readily assembled and disassembled, thus considerably simplifying mechanical work upon the engine, both in its construction and repair.

While I have illustrated in the drawings filed herewith and have hereinafter fully described one specific embodiment of my invention, it is to be distinctly understood that I do not consider my 25 invention limited to said specific embodiment, but

. refer for its scope to the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, on the line I--I of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged end elevation of one of the eccentric driving means.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of. the eccentric driving plate. I

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the segmental looking plate.

Fig. '7 is a vertical section of the driving shaft.

As illustrated in the drawings, my improved engine has the motor block B and head B. In this block B of the cylinders C with valves V and accompanying mechanism, and pistons P, the block B is supported by the engine frame F having the transverse beams F-I on which is carried the shaft S in bearings SI. It is to be especially noted (Fig. 1) that this shaft S is a straight shaft, entirely without cranks. The eccentric driving plates E are composed of two portions E--I (Fig. 5) and E-2 (Fig. 6). The portion El has an arcuate orifice O and two shoulders I, I. The portion E-2 has the two corresponding shoulders 2, 2. These portions are so designed that the portion E--I may be placed upon the shaft S and 1935, Serial No. 43,100

the portion E- -Zmay'be boltedtothe portion E-I by bolts 3. The shaft S has chamfered portions S2, so that when the portion E2 is bolted to the portion EI the shoulders 2, 2 of the portion E2 bear against the shoulders S3 of the shaft S, provided by the chamfered S-2, and the shoulders I, I of the portion E-I, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3. Eccentric plates E are provided with suitable bearing rings E-3 formed in a plurality of segments and bolted to the plates E by the bolts 4. These rings E-3 have theirrims E-4 formed substantially semi-circular in cross section. Disposed about each of these rings E3 is a-driving ring E-5 formed of two segments 6 having ears I and 8 connected by bolts 9 and II] respectively. The connecting rod I I from each piston P has its lower end I2 received between the ears 8 of one of the rings E-5. This end I2 is slightly reduced to provide the shoulders I3 abutting against the ends of the ears 8. When the end I2 is so received, the bolt Ill'is passed through the end I2 as well as the ears 8, thus fixing the connecting rod I I to the ring E-5.

The frame F has orifices F2 covered by the removable plates F3. Suitably disposed beneath the frame F are the oil chambers F-4 into which the lower portions of the plates E, bearing rings E3 and driving rings E-5 dip when operating, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, thereby supplying splash lubrication to the upper parts.

From the foregoing description the details of construction of my engine, its use and operation will be obvious. It will be noted that for purposes of illustration in the drawings my engine has six cylinders, and that the cylinders C with their pistons P and their driving means to the shaft S are arranged in pairs (Fig. l) and that the bearings S--I are arranged between the pairs of driving units on the shaft S. Also it will be noted that I have arranged the driving units on the shaft S in such a way that there are two sets of three units each and that the eccentrics of each set are symmetrically disposed about the circumference of the shaft S. Thus, as shown in the drawings, the units I and VI have the same position, and the units II and V have the same position, and the units III and IV have the same position. It is this nicety of balance in the operating units about the shaft S, with the entire elimination of cranks from the shaft S, that produces the elimination of vibration permitting high speed and reduction of wear.

It will be obvious that should repair or replacement of parts be required, access to the driving units may be had through orifices F-2, and disassembled parts can be removed through said orifices F-2. All parts are so designed and related that the entire units, including the pistons P, can be removed through these orifices F2.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a straight power shaft having chamfered portions to form a pair of shoulders defining chords on said shaft; a circular disc mounted on said shaft and comprising co-acting plates, one of said plates having a semi-circular orifice and a pair of straight shoulders, and the other plate having a pair of straight shoulders, the shoulders of the latter plate bearing upon the shoulders of the shaft and the shoulders of the former plate, a multi-piece collar bolted on the periphery of said disc; a grooved ring slidably embracing the periphery of said collar; and a connecting rod between said ring and the engine piston.

2. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a straight power shaft having chamfered portions to form a pair of shoulders disposed at right angles to one another; a circular disc eccentrically mounted on said shaft and comprising co-acting plates, one of said plates having a semi-circular orifice and a pair of straight shoulders disposed at right angles to one another, and the other plate having a pair of shoulders disposed at right angles to one another, the first mentioned plate being received on the shaft with its orifice receiving therein the un-chamfered surface of the shaft and its shoulders aligned with the shoulders on the shaft, and the second mentioned plate being bolted to the first mentioned plate, its shoulders being received against the shoulders on the shaft and the first mentioned plate; a collar bolted on the periphery of said disc; a grooved ring embracing the periphery of said collar; and a connecting rod between said ring and the engine piston.

WALTS E. HOOD. 

